confused

Why not just take an Associates in Science, Nursing and qualify for the NCLEX RN?

Why get this extra associates in arts degree? Why aim for LPN if you really want to be an RN?

And some would even say, why bother with any associates? Why not go directly for your BSN/RN and cut out all of this other stuff?

If I'm understanding you correctly (and not sure I am, your post is a little tough for me to follow), you expect to graduate with an AA from a community college; what do you mean by nursing pre-reqs? What is the AA degree actually IN? If it is in nursing, you'd be eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN. If it is NOT in nursing, why are you doing it?

If what you mean is you will have an AA in a totally unrelated field, but happen to have nursing pre-reqs done, then it doesn't matter what degree you have or don't have for applying to an LPN program--they don't require the degree and they frequently don't require college pre-requs as they are not a college-degree program. Most LPN programs will take you start-to-finish with everything you need once you are accepted.

IF you complete an LPN program successfully, you will be eligible to sit for the NCLEX-PN.

Once you have a license to practice as a PN, you can then take that and apply to either a BSN program or ADN program, PROVIDED you have completed THAT school's pre-requisite courses. These requirements vary by school so you should find out (when you're ready) what the pre-requisites are for the school you want to attend.

Some schools will enable you to skip some coursework in the RN program because you will already have an LPN license, some will not. Also varies greatly. You may have an edge in applying to an RN program once you have the LPN done simply because some of them will place a value on that education and factor it in.....sometimes not. "It Depends" is the phrase of the day :)

Good luck!

I did the lpn to rn to bsn route. My rationale was to make money and gain experience along the way. Do what is best for YOU.